Sadly, the Tesla Model 3 won't make it to India anytime soon.

Tesla’s Model 3 has a new entry-level variant in the US and it costs $35,000 (Rs 25 lakh approx). Through a blog post, Tesla announced that the new much-awaited Standard Model 3 would have a range of 220 miles (354 kilometres), a top speed of 130 miles per hour (209 kilometres per hour), and take 5.6 seconds to go from 0–60 miles per hour (0–100 kilometres per hour). In addition, Tesla announced a Standard Range Plus variant for $37,000 (Rs 26 lakh), which increases the car’s range by 20 miles (32 kilometres).

“To achieve these prices while remaining financially sustainable, Tesla is shifting sales worldwide to online only. You can now buy a Tesla in North America via your phone in about 1 minute, and that capability will soon be extended worldwide. We are also making it much easier to try out and return a Tesla, so that a test drive prior to purchase isn’t needed. You can now return a car within 7 days or 1,000 miles for a full refund. Quite literally, you could buy a Tesla, drive several hundred miles for a weekend road trip with friends and then return it for free,” writes Tesla confidently in its blog.

The Model 3 was originally announced in 2008 but finally went on sale in the US in 2017. The Elon Musk-owned company sells the Model 3 as a compact four-door electric sedan. The new Standard variant is powered by a 50 kWh battery that supports both AC and DC charging. The car’s 18-inch rear wheels are powered by a single electric motor. The Model 3 uses Tesla’s proprietary Autopilot software, which is capable of navigating the car automatically in some situations. In addition, the car is capable of parking itself automatically.

Aside from the Model 3, Tesla is planning to build an electric SUV called Model Y in Shanghai and launch it in 2020. While introducing the Model 3 is perhaps Tesla’s best bet if it decides to set up shop in India, there’s no definite information on whether it will happen yet. Though the Model 3 costs a reasonable $35,000 (Rs 25 lakh) in the US, it won’t cost the same if it is imported to India. We’ll just have to wait and see if Tesla is considering India as a serious market for the sale of its electric car range.

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